Manufacture of printed and die cut articles



June 29, 1937.

o. F. LOHMANN 2,085,435

MANUFACTURE OF PRINTED AND DIE CUT ARTICLES Filed Dec. 4, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 9/ yy 2 I! :T '41; v

INVENTOR Oscar E Lehman ATTORN EY 7 June 29, 1937. 0, LOHMANN 2,085,435

MANUFACTURE OF PRINTED AND DIE CUT ARTICLES Filed Dec. 4, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 Hill'- IIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR Oscar E Lofimmm ATTORNEY June 29, 1937. o, LoHMANN 2,085,435

MANUFACTURE OF PRINTED AND DIE CUT ARTICLES Filed Dec. 4, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 7a 76 g 2/ 4 Q- INVENTOR 0560/" [A ofimazm ATTORN EY Patented June 29, 1937 PATENT OFFICE MANUFACTURE OF PRINTED AND DIE CUT ARTICLES I Oscar Frederic Lohmann, Tenafly, N. 5.

Application December 4, 1933, Serial No. 700,826

' Claims. (01. 101-153) The invention herein disclosed relates to the manufacture of printed, die-cut sheet material and to a machine for printing a design upon sheet material and cutting the printed design from the sheet material to carry out the manufacture of seals, box covers and the like.

Commonly, seals and thelike are printed upon a continuous web of sheet material from which they are cut. Usually a seal press includes a reciprocating die which cuts the printed seal from the web, the web moving forwardly intermittently between successive cuts by the reciprocating die. The cutting die may include an embossing die so that the cutting and embossing are simultaneous operations. Such presses are bulky and slow in operation and it is an object of this invention to manufacture such articles continuously and economically and to provide a machine for carrying out the manufacture which is continuous in operation and economical to manufacture and operate.

In accordance with the invention, a continuously operating printing mechanism is utilized in conjunction with a continuously operating cutting mechanism. The cutting and printing mechanisms are synchronized so that a design printed upon a continuously moving web by the printing mechanism will be subsequently cut from the web by the continuously operating cutting mechanism. The printing and cutting mechanisms may be separated from each other so that the ink may dry between the printing and cutting mechanisms. In the machine of the invention, means are provided for varying the relation between the cutting and printing mechanisms in order to bring these mechanisms into exact synchronism when different designs are to be printed.

One machine which is utilized for, and embodies the invention is assembled upon a frame which supportsa roll ofpaper, the printing mechanism at one end and the cutting mechanism at the other end. The printing mechanism is of the intaglio type for effecting raised printing and consists of a recessed die which is opposed by a resilient roll. This die is rotated by the power mechanism. The cutting mechanism includes a rotatably mounted cutting element and a rotatably mounted abutting element pressing against the cutting element. The cutting element consists of a roll having extending from the surfacethereof knife edges arranged to outline the ultimate shape ofthe article. The cutting element and the die of the printing mechanism are geared together for synchronized operation through a gearing arrangement by which the relation between these two elements may be varied in order to bring them into exact synchronism. Feeding mechanism feeds a web of paper from a roll mounted on the frame continuously through the printing and cutting mechanisms. The printing mechanism prints the design and the'cutting 5 mechanism cuts the printed design from the web, both operating continuously.

Such a machine is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in'detail below from which illustration and description a clearer understanding of the invention may be had.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation illustrating the printing mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional end elevation illustrating the cutting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the drive mechanism for driving the feeding mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of a portion thereof;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional elevation of the printing die;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the cutting element; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan of the printing die illustrating the design thereon.

The machine illustrated in the drawings includes a frame upon which the parts thereof are mounted. This frame includes a pair of spaced side frame members la and lb. In each frame element there is provided, intermediate the top and bottom thereof and on the forward end, a groove which receives a shaft 2 upon which a roll of paper 3 is mounted. The end of the shaft 2 has a drum 4 thereon which extends on the outside of the frame element la. The drum 4 is surrounded by a pair of semicircular brake bands 5a and 5b which are pivotally mounted on a pivot 6 secured to the frame element 1a.. The bands 5a and 5b have opposed flanges 5c and 5d respectively which are drawn together by a bolt 1 anda wing nut 8. The two bands are drawn together with suflicient force to prevent the roll of paper 3 from rotating freely. J

On the rear end of the machine the iritaglio printing mechanism is mounted. This vprinting mechanism consists of a die 9 which is rotatably mounted on a pair of opposed centers we and I 0b mounted on the auxiliary frame elements lo and id vertically extending from the frame elements la and lb and supported upon a plate le extending between the frame members. The center ifla is mounted in a sleeve II which is rotatably mounted ina hub I2 formed on the frame element Ic. The sleeve II extends through the hub and has formed on the end thereof a gear I3.

The center IIlb is mounted in a sleeve I4 having a square thread cut in the outer surface thereof. The sleeve I4 extends through an internally threaded hub I5 on the frame element Id and has formed on the outer end thereof a knurled band-wheel I6. -The threaded engagement between the hub I5 and the sleeve I4 permits the advancing and withdrawing of the center Ililb to adjust the die on the centers or to remove the die and replace it with another having a different design thereon. The die 9 is of the usual type used in intaglio or raised printing. It has cut in the surface thereof a cavity 9' shaped in accordance with the design tobe printed thereon and in operation, the die runs in a pool of ink, 91 the reservoir for which is formed by a doctor blade 9a which presses against the surface of the die and wipes the surface of the die. The doctor blade. is pivotally mounted on a pair of slidably mounted blocks 9b and 90 mounted respectively 25 on extensions of the frame elements 10 and Id. Each of the blocks 9b and 90 has an internally threaded opening therethrough which receives a threaded spindle, 9d and 9e, respectively, which is rotatably mounted in brackets extending from 3 0 the extensions of the frame element but which is 'held stationary with respect to the frame member against longitudinal movement thereof. By means of handles on the ends of these threaded spindles, the doctor blade may be moved toward or away from the die. Bolts 9 and 99 are provided which extend through slots in the doctor blade on the opposite side of the pivots. Wing 1 nuts on the bolts engage the doctor blade and rotate it about the pivots to force the doctor blade against the die.

The section of the die having'the design thereon is opposed in the operation of the machine by a resilient roller I! which is mounted upon the shaft I8. Commonly, the roll I! is slidable along the shaft so as to be adjustable to any position on the die. The shaft I8 is journaled in bearing boxes I9a and I9!) slidably mounted respectively on the frame elements Ia and Id. The frame elements are provided with vertical faces a. and

formed therein which receive the vertical faces 20a and 20b. Extending from each bearing box and secured therein there is a threaded spindle which extends vertically from the bearing box. The bearing box I9a has a threaded spindle 2Ia extending therefrom and secured thereto and the bearing box I9bhas the threaded spindle 2Ib extending therefrom. The spindle 2Ia extending vertically from the bearing box 2| passes through a bifurcated vertical hub 22a. The hub 22a is also slidably mounted upon the vertical face 20a. Between the arms of the hubr22a there is mounted about the spindle a worm gear 23a. The worm gear is internally threaded and the threads thereof engage the threads of the spindle 2Ia. The hub bracket 22a has extending therefrom a bracket 24a in which there is mounted a shaft 25a having a Worm 26a thereon. which meshes with a worm gear 23a. On the end of the shaft, there is mounted a handle 21a through which the shaft 25a canbe manually rotated. Rotation of the shaft 25a effects the rotation of the worm gear 23a and thus vertical movement of the threaded spindle 20a. The bearing block I9b is mounted in the same way and it is inde- .a feed roller 32.

20b. The bearing boxes I91]. and I9b have grooves pendently adjustable through a handle @2117.

Thus the bearing boxes I9a and I 9b are independently adjustable in a vertical direction. This independent adjustment is provided for properly contacting the roller I! with the die 9.

The bearing boxes may be also moved through a limited distance together. This movement is effected through the slidable mounting of the bifurcated hubs 22a and 22b. Extending from each frame element there is a bifurcated bracket, 28a and 28b. Extending through these-brackets and journaled in bearing openings in extensions 29a and 29b of the bearing brackets 22a and 22b, which slide against the brackets 28a and 28b, there is a shaft 30. The shaft30 carries a pair of cams 3Ia and 3Ib which are mounted between, and one against each of the bearing extensions 29a and 29b and which are received in the bifurcated brackets 28a and 28b. The 'cams are eccentrics and are of a diameter which is equal to the distance between the arms of the bifurcated brackets between which they are received. Thus upon rotating the shaft 30 and the cams 3 la and 3Ib secured thereto the shaft 30 is moved vertically. The shaft maybe rotated manually through a handle 30a secured on the end thereof. Since the hub brackets 22a. and 22b are secured to the shaft through the bearing extensions 29a,

and 29b the hub brackets will be moved together vertically upon rotation of the shaft 30. While i the bearing brackets I9a. and I9!) are independently adjustable in'a vertical plane, the shaft adjustment through the handle 30a and the shaft 30 is provided for the purpose of quickly raising and lowering the roll I1 after the roll has been 1:.

properly adjusted on the die, particularly when it is necessary to thread a web of paper through the machine.

A web of paper 3a. from the roll 3 passes between the roll I! and the die 9 and around the roll I1. Immediately behind the roll 'II there is The feed roller 32 is mounted on a shaft 33 that extends between and is journaled in the frame members lo and Id, the shaft extending through the frame member Id and having a sprocket wheel 34 mounted on the outer end thereof. Cooperating with this feed roller there are a pair of rollers 35a and 35b which are mounted upon arms 36a and 36b that are pivotally I mounted upon a rod 31 extending between and secured to the frame members Ia and Id. The rolls 35a and 35b rest upon the roller 32. The web of paper passing from the roll I! passes between the rollers 33a and 33b and the roll 32.

Extending between the feed roller 32 and another feed roller 38 adjacent the other end of the machine there is a plate. which supports the Web of paper which passes between the two feed rollers. The feed roller 38 is mounted upon a shaft 40 which extends between the frame members Ia. and lb and is journaled therein. The shaft 40 extends through the frame member Ib and has mounted on the outer edge thereof a sprocket wheel 4|. Cooperating with this feed roller there are also a pair of rollers 42a. and 42b.

which are mounted respectively on the ends of arms 43a and 43b which are pivotally mounted on a rod 44 that extends between and 'is'secured 48 for rotation therewith which disk is also mounted upon the shaft 41. Mounted upon the end of a shaft 49. which extends through the frame member lb there is a disk 50. The shaft 89 is rotated through a prime mover such, for example, as a motor to which it may be directly connected or to which it may be connected through a train of gears. Rotation of the shaft 69 rotates the disk 59 which is secured thereto. Between the disks 48 and 50 there is mounted a friction roller 5|. The friction roller 5! is rotatably mounted upon a spindle 52 which extends from an arm 53a of a bracket 53. The bracket 53 is internally threaded and is received upon a threaded spindle 5B which is journaled in spaced bearing brackets 55 and 56 mounted on the side of the frame member lb, the bearing 56 being a thrust bearing. The spindle 56 is inclined to the vertical and extends between the planes of the two disks parallel to a line joining the axes of the shafts ii and 69. A hand-wheel 57 on the end of the spindle is provided for manual rotation of the spindle. Manual rotation of the spindle moves the friction wheel 5| which is rotatably mounted on the spindle 52 transverse to the axes of the disks 38 and'5ll. The disk 68 is driven from the disk 50 through the friction wheel 5! which secures both disks. Movement of the friction wheel 5! transversely to the line joining the shafts varies the relation between the two disks and thus the relation between the speed of rotation of the shaft 67 and the shaft 69. In this way the movement of the web of paper through the machine may be varied in order to coordinate the movement with the printing and feeding mechanism.

From the feed roll 38 the web of paper passes on to a plate 58 and from the plate 58 between a rotatably mounted cutting element 59 and anism. A series of radial holes 6la, 6lb and6lc extend between the center of these knives and the interior of the cutting element and form air passages. The abutment roller 69 may be of either hard or soft material but in operation the cutting element and the roller 69 are pressed together with sufiicient pressure for the knife edges to penetrate the material which is passingthrough the machine. The cutting element 59 is mounted upon a cylinder 62. The cylinder 62 has a series of radial holes 62a, 62b, 62c extending between the outer and inner surfaces and connecting with the holes Ma, 6") and Mo through the cutting element. The cylinder '62 is mounted upon a shaft 631 The shaft 63 is hollow and has a series of radial openings 63a extending therethrough and connecting the interior of the shaft with circumferential grooves 63b. In the position shown in Fig. 9 it will be observed that the air passages 63a, 62a and Ma are in alignment and the knife 59a is connected to the interior of the shaft'63. Air which is supplied to the shaft under pressure is thus connected to the center of the cutting element and ejects from the cutting element the piece cut from the web of the material. The arrangement of the grooves and passages is such that as each knife section moves off the roll 60 and into a position corresponding to the position of the knife 59a as shown in Fig. 9, the air underpressure is delivered to the center of the knife section. The air under pressure is supplied by a compressor (not shown) through an air tube to a tube 630 which connects with the interior of the shaft 63.

One end of the cylinder 62 extends through and is Journaled in the arms 64a. and 64b of a bifurcated bracket 64. The shaft- 63 extends through the cylinder 62 and extends beyond the arm 64b of the bracket 64. A bracket 65 secured to the arms 64b of the bracket 64 engages a tube 530 which extends from the shaft 63 and holds it stationary. The cylinder 62 at the end opposite to the end received in the bracket 64 is received in a hollow fixture 66 which is threaded on to a stud 61 that is journaled in a bracket. The sleeve 62 has mounted thereon between the arms 69a. and 64b of the bracket 64 a gear 69. The stud 61 is journaled in a bracket 68 which is pivotally mounted upon a stub shaft 69 that extends between the arms 18a and 18b of a bifurcated bracket ill. The bracket 10 is slidably mounted upon the edge of the frame member. The bracket 66 is also secured to a slidably mounted bracket H which is also slidably mounted upon the edge of the frame member. The bracket it! carries an internally threaded hub 70d and the bracket II carries an internally threaded hub Ho. The hubs 18d and lid respectively receive threaded spindles l2 and 13 which engage the internal threads of the hub. These spindles are rotatably mounted in hubs M and i5 formed on the upper end of the frame member. Thrust collars 14a. and 14b prevent vertical movement of the spindle 12. Similar thrust collars.15a and 15b one on each end of the hub l5 prevent vertical movement of the spindle 73. On the upper end of the spindle 12 there is mounted a worm gear 76 and on the upper end of the spindle 73 there is mounted a worm gear 71. The worm gear i6 is engaged by a worm i8 and the worm gear 11 is engaged by a worm 19. The worms i8 and 19 are mounted upon a shaft 80 ,which is journaled in bearing brackets 8| on top of the frame members. The shaft 80 extends beyond the bearing boxes and has fixed on the end thereof a handle 82 through which the shaft may be manually rotated. Upon rotation of the shaft 82 the worms i8 and 19 are rotated and the worm gears 76 and 11 are rotated, rotating the spindles 12 and 73. Upon rotation, the spindles i2 and 13 move the brackets 18 and II vertically and thus move the .cutting element vertically into or out of engagement with the abutment roller 60. The cutting element may be removed and replaced by sliding the bracket arm 68 along the shaft 69. The bracket arm 68 has a socket 68:; therein which receives a pin 10c extending from the arm, 10b of the bracket "II when the arm 69 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, that is, the operative position. The arm 68 is held in any position on the shaft, particularly in the position shown in Fig. 4, by a set screw 83. Upon releasing this set screw the arm may be slid along the shaft and thus the stud 61 released. When the stud 61 is released the arm 69 may be rotated about the shaft I8 and the cutting element 59 may be removed andreplaced.

The gear 69 on the sleeve 62 meshes with a gear 84 mounted upon the end of a shaft 85 on which the abutment roller 68 is mounted. The shaft 85 is journaled ina bracket 86. The abutment roller 661s held positioned on the shaft by a collar 81. The abutment roller 68 is of the same diameter as the cutting element 59 and when the cutting element 59 is replaced by another of a different diameter the abutment roll 68 is also replaced with one of a different diameter. The

5 bracket as is a pivotally mounted bracket. This bracket is mounted on a shaft 88 which extends from the frame member. The shaft 88 also carries rotatably mounted thereon a gear 89. The gear 89 meshes with a gear 98 that is mounted on a shaft 9I extending from the bracket. The gear 98' also meshes with the gear 84 so that there is a movement-transmission "connection between the gears 89 and 84. The distribution of the weight on the bracket 86 is such that the gear 34 is urged against the gear 59. The gear 89 also meshes with a gear 92 that is mounted on the shaft 49 which as heretofore described extends through the frame elements. 2 The. shaft 49 carries between the frame elements a helical gear 93 which meshes with another helical gear 94 mounted upon a shaft 95.

The shaft 95 is journaled in and extends through a the frame elements'and is slidably mounted in the frame elements. The end of the shaft 95 extends through and is journaled in the frame element Ib and an externally threaded hub 96 on the frame. A sleeve 91 having an internally threaded section 91w which engages the threads on the hub 96, a reduced section 91b in which a reduced end 95a of the shaft is rotatably mounted and a hand-wheel 910 is secured to the shaft against longitudinal movement with res'pect thereto by a thrust collar 98. The sleeve 98 is provided with a hand-wheel 910 through which the sleeve may be manually rotated through the hand-wheel 91c. Upon rotation, the externally threaded sleeve 96 is moved longitudinally and effects longitudinal movement of 40 the shaft 95 Longitudinal movement of the shaft 95 changes the relative rotational relation of the shafts 49 and 95 by virtue of the helical gears 93 and 94.

On the end of the shaft 94 extending through 5 the frame element Ia there is mounted a gear 99 which meshes with a gear I88 rotatably mounted on a shaft I8I extending from the frame element. Gear 'I88 meshes with a gear I82 that is mounted upon a stub shaft I83 and gear I82 50 meshes with the gear I3 on the sleeve II which carries the center I8 upon which the die 9 is mounted and which meshes with a gear on the shaft I8 carrying the roll I'I.

It will thus be apparent that the die and the cutting element are connected together through the train of gears just described. However, in t that train of gears there are the helical gears through which the relation between the dleand the cutting element may be varied in order to bring the die and the cutting element into exact synchronism. This synchronism of the die and cutting element is necessary in order that the knives of the cutting element will exactly surround the design printed by the die. The die is 5 of the type used in intaglio printing so that the ink is raised giving the effect of embossing. When seals are printed with this intaglio printing, they appear as embossed seals.

Following the cutting element there is'a sup- 7 porting plate I84 for supporting the web of paper as itpasses from the machine. This supporting plate is inclined and may be arranged so that the seals are delivered into a suitable receptacle. Mounted on the frame and extending therefrom 75 there are a pair of brackets I54: and I851).-

These brackets have a shaft I86 extending there On the shaft between and journaled therein. there is mounted a cutter I8'I having a pair of cutting knives I88 and I89. These'knives cooperate with a cutting blade I I8 also extending between the brackets I85a. and N517. When rectangular designs are printed this latter cutter is preferably used. The width of the paper is the width of the design and the knife I8'I is rotated at such speed as to cut successive sections of the paper in accordance with the length of the design.

The knife is driven through the shaft I88 to which it is secured by set screw I81. The shaft I86 extends through the side frame member and has assembled thereon a gear I I I. A bracket arm H2. is pivotally mounted on the shaft I86 and extends radially thereof. This bracket arm H2 is provided with a slot II2a which receives astub shaft 3 on which a gear 4 is mounted. The bracket H2 has a pair of pins H50. and H52) which are received in slots I85c and I85d in the bracket arm I85b. These pins H511 and H517 limit the amount of rotational movement of the arm I I2 about the shaft I86. The slot II2a. permits adjustment of the shaft I I3 in accordance with the gear secured to the shaft of the cutting element with which gear the gear II4 meshes in the operative position. When it is desired 6 use the knife, the web of paperis brought over the blade I I8. When the knife is not in use the arm H2 is rotated about the shaft I86 so, that the gears II 4 and 69 are disengaged. It is to be noted that the cutting element is at a higheFelevation than the die 9 so that the web of paper approaches the nip formed by the cutting element and the abutting roller at an angle. From the above description of the machine illustrated in the drawings, the manner in which the articles are manufactured will be apparent and it will be observed that the machine is continuous in operation and is capable of producing seals or other printed designs with raised printing which simulates embossed vdesigns in continuous operation. The several parts which necessarily are coordinated for the proper operation of the machine are each adjustable, that is, the speed of operation of the feeding mechanism and the relation between the cutting element and printing means for cutting the printed portions from the web, and coordinating means for synchronizing the action of the printing and cutting means.

2. In a printing machine, the combination comprising intaglio printing means for printing a succession of raised designs upon a continuously moving web, cutting means spaced from said printing means for cutting the printed portions from the web, spaced support and feed rollers between said printing and cutting means for supporting and feeding the web, variable speed driving means for said support and feed rollers, and coordinating means for synchronizing the action of the printing and cutting means.

3. In a printing machine, the combination comprising intaglio printing means for printing a succession of raised designs upon a continuously moving web, cutting means spaced from said printing means for cutting the printed portion from the web, spaced support and feed rollersbetween said printing and cutting means for supporting and feeding the web, variable speed driving means for said support and feed rollers, and coordinating means for synchronizing the action of the printing and cutting means including means for varying the relation between the printing means and the cutting element.

4. The method for making seals having raised characters which method comprises printing a synchronizing the action of the printing and cut- 15 ting means.

OSCAR FREDERIC LOHMANN. 

